The armed group known as the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) set fire to a car carrying a Muslim father and his son in the northern area of Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State and abducted them.
The individuals who were abducted are U Hla Win and his father U Saw Lean Mula, both from Sa Bai Kone Muslim Village located in the northern part of Maungdaw Township.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred when the two were traveling from Sa Bai Kone village to Kyein Chaung village at approximately 6:00 pm on August 12. Reportedly, more than 20 members of ARSA were positioned along the roadside between Laung Don and Kyein Chaung villages, armed with weapons, and they proceeded to abduct them.
The road serves as a route for students from Laung Don village who travel to Kyein Chaung village for their schooling.
Hours prior to the incident, a parent of one of the students mentioned that when the parents were accompanying the students back from school, they encountered a group of 5 armed ARSA members at the location where the incident subsequently unfolded.
"Everyone arriving from Kyein Chaung, and all those who had traveled along that road, were instructed to halt their motorcycles and tricycles. The keys were collected from them. Then, in Burmese, one of them conveyed, 'We have no intention to harm you. Our actions are unrelated to you. Please remain patient for a brief period.'"
Subsequently, upon the arrival of the car carrying the abducted father and son, the armed group returned the keys that they had held and subsequently released the parents of the students and other travelers.
Upon the car's arrival, about 20 more concealed ARSA members emerged. They compelled the car to stop, set it on fire, and abducted the father and son.
"The father and son who were abducted refrained from sleeping in the village due to safety concerns. Instead, they routinely chose to rest in Kyein Chaung during the evenings. They had been following this routine for quite a while. The group responsible for the abduction (ARSA) was aware of their predictable pattern and strategically waited along the road. Upon their arrival, they threw the confiscated keys onto the road. This prompted the victims to stop their car, which was then set on fire. Witnesses, including those whose keys had been taken, were present and observed the entire incident."
Following the car's ignition, the father and son were abducted and led to Myo Thit village-tract, Maungdaw Township, by walking along the road, as informed by a parent of a student.
"After crossing Myo Thit, you'll encounter Yae Twin Pyin Muslim village. Yae Twin Pyin is situated in proximity to the fence. Upon reaching the fence, they will have reached the opposite side."
A former member of parliament from Maungdaw Township also expressed the view that the abduction of U Hla Win and his father U Saw Lean Mula from Sa Bai Kone Muslim Village could potentially be linked to their business interactions with ARSA.
"The incident that occurred yesterday was related to business. There seems to be a business-related dispute involving ARSA. It appears to be solely concerning business matters, and not any other issues," he explained.
Residents mentioned that approximately 1 mile away from the location of the incident, there are houses constructed by the Indian government intended to accommodate Muslims who had fled to Bangladesh.
